# Transit Stop vs onTime Metra, CTA

The clearest difference is rating: Transit Stop at 4.6 against onTime Metra, CTA's 4.0. Transit Stop also leads on ratings volume (33K vs 876) and chart position (#161 vs unranked). onTime Metra, CTA's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Transit Stop sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and onTime Metra, CTA sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Transit Stop holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Transit Stop has 33K ratings behind it against 876, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 48% and 48% positive.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Transit Stop | onTime Metra, CTA |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (33K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/transit-stop-cta-tracker/id414569920/reviews)** | [4.0 (876 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ontime-metra-cta/id435958174/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **33K** | 876 |
| Positive reviews | **47.9% of reviews** | 47.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#161** | — |
| Size | 39 MB | 133 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kramer Concepts, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/401439615) | [Mobileware Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/327006121) |

## What reviewers say

### Transit Stop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/transit-stop-cta-tracker/id414569920)

**Currently charting:** #161 Top Free · Navigation (US App Store)

Get real-time Chicago bus and train arrival estimates for your favorite CTA stops. Track vehicle locations on a map, save frequent stops, and view service alerts. Integrates with Apple Watch for quick access.

**Highlights:** Real-time arrival estimates, Apple Watch integration, Location map view, Individual vehicle tracking, Save favorite stops, View multiple routes, CTA service alerts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate for trains and buses
- 🚀 99% accuracy on time rate
- 👍 Intuitive UI
- 👍 Excellent paired with Apple Watch
- 👍 Favorite transit app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate arrival times
- 🐛 Crashes on iPad
- 🐛 Turns off audio when app is open
- 🐛 Unreliable, with ghost buses and delayed updates
- 👎 Poor user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes after updates
- Stops not recognized when searching
- Inconsistent accuracy, especially for certain routes

**Requested features**

- Ability to set favorite routes, not just stops
- Geolocation to automatically show nearest stops
- Ability to change names of saved stops
- Nearby stops button
- Default stop when opening the app


### onTime Metra, CTA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ontime-metra-cta/id435958174)

This app provides live train schedules and real-time updates for commuters. Easily find your next train, track its progress, and receive service notifications. Go paperless and stay on time with convenient access to all necessary schedule information.

**Highlights:** Metra service/outage notification, Track number lookup, Paperless schedules, Countdown to next train, Holiday and eve schedules, Weekday and weekend schedules, Offline schedule access

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| onTime Premium | $4.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accurate schedules
- 🚀 Helpful for commuting
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Reliable app
- 👍 Useful features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate real-time information
- 🐛 Unreliable train tracking
- 🔍 Outdated schedules
- 💩 Disruptive ads
- 💩 Buggy app

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes frequently
- Incorrect train arrival/departure times
- Inability to check-in or track trains
- Compatibility issues with newer devices

**Requested features**

- Real-time delay notifications
- Ability to purchase tickets in-app
- Improved user interface
- Better integration with Metra services


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Transit Stop free?

Transit Stop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is onTime Metra, CTA free?

onTime Metra, CTA is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Transit Stop or onTime Metra, CTA?

Transit Stop is rated higher. Transit Stop averages 4.6 out of 5 from 33K ratings, while onTime Metra, CTA averages 4.0 from 876 ratings.

### Do Transit Stop or onTime Metra, CTA have ads?

Both Transit Stop and onTime Metra, CTA show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Transit Stop or onTime Metra, CTA?

Transit Stop ships an update every 2 months, and onTime Metra, CTA every 2 months. Most recently, Transit Stop was updated on October 27, 2026 and onTime Metra, CTA on October 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*